You have eyes but you do not see. You have ears but you do not hear. You say the words, but you ignore the deeds. You claim to profess a belief in Christ, but you do not live according to the words of Christ. You follow Christ by your own desires but not by the desires of Christ.
O Ye Christian Hypocrites!
Let me be clear. I have known many Christians whose lives reflected extraordinary compassion, humility, mercy, and sacrifice. This essay is not about them. It is about those who invoke Christ’s name while ignoring Christ’s teachings.
I have watched Christians for seventy years now and what I see are too many hypocrites. People who commit the same sins over and over again, buoyed up by their belief that they will be forgiven. Forever forgiven for their debts and trespasses. They call out the Lord’s name over and over again, “Please forgive my sins” but they do not change how they live or what they do.
O Ye Christian Hypocrites!
You rant and rail against those who disagree with the specific brand of Christianity that you belong to. All the rest of the Christians in the world will not be allowed in the same heaven as your Christian sect. You demand that the Government put the Ten Commandments of Moses in the schools. You demand they be put in City and Municipal offices. You want to tear down the wall separating Government from Religion so that America can become a Christian Nation.
You ignore the fact that nothing, absolutely nothing in the Declaration of Independence calls for America to be a Christian Nation. Where it says “God,” in your hypocrisy you read Christ. Where it says “Creator” you read Christ. The Founding Fathers knew what it was like to live under religious tyranny. That is why they were wise enough to open the doors of America to all religions. Religions such as Congregationalists, Quakers, Calvinists, Muslims, Catholics, and Jews were all welcome.
O Ye Christian Hypocrites!
If this hypocrisy was not enough, the worst is still to come. The Christians who totally ignore the Sermon on the Mount. Not the commands of Moses. Not the commands of Joseph. Not the commands of Isaiah. The very commands of Jesus on how to live and what to live for and by. In my eighty years, I cannot recall hearing Christians campaign for the Sermon on the Mount with anything approaching the fervor devoted to displaying the Ten Commandments. I have never heard a Christian demanding the Sermon on the Mount be placed in any schools. Never in any Church. Never in any Government Office. The words of Moses and the Old Testament flow easily on the lips of many Christians but the very words of Jesus himself are ignored. They are ignored or treated like so much heresy.
The Sermon on the Mount – Christ’s Beatitudes:
The Beatitudes are a series of blessings that are part of a more extensive order of teachings, including the Lord’s Prayer, called “The Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7). The Beatitudes describe the virtues and attitudes of those who will inherit God’s Kingdom.
The Sermon on the Mount and its blessings, the Beatitudes, were purposefully spoken by Jesus to challenge our conventional thinking, to turn our world upside down and guide the disciples and those who followed Jesus into a “new” and genuine Biblical life that reflected the attributes and values of God’s Kingdom.
- Love for all people, even our enemies
- Servitude over acquiring earthly wealth and power
These values opposed the law of retribution (eye for an eye) provided for within the Old Covenant and the Law of condemnation under the weight of sin leading to death.
They also oppose the entirety of this world’s systems and values, which are measured by accumulating wealth and power.
Let us look at what Jesus said and what he wanted Christians to do in this world.
The Beatitudes from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus placed this first because spiritual humility is the foundational starting point for entering a relationship with God. You must acknowledge your spiritual need before you can receive spiritual wealth. Those who are too arrogant to accept the help of God will not receive it nor will they enter God’s Kingdom.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Mourning” goes beyond standard bereavement. It refers to a broken heart over one’s own moral failures and the pain caused by turning away from God. However, It also includes feeling deep sorrow for the injustice, tragedy, and pain present in the world. Not just in your own little family or your own church but for all the people suffering in the world whether from disease, injustice, famine, or politics. Jesus meant for us to be Citizens of the World and not just our own little corner of the world.
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.
While the aggressive and ruthless seem to conquer the world now, Jesus promises that the quiet, trusting, and resilient will ultimately inherit the renewed creation. The people with faith in his words. The people who are silent but live out the words of Jesus in action and deeds. Not the men and women who boast loudly of their faith like the Pharisee bragging about his wealth and contributions.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Do these hypocritical Christians even know what righteousness means? Do they think the mansions of the rich and famous are full of “Righteous” people? Do they think the politicians collecting their bribes from lobbyists and corporations are “Righteous” people?
According to Judaism a “Righteous person” is someone who acts justly, showing mercy, and fulfilling moral and communal obligations. Jesus saw true righteousness as results in practical actions. It means treating others with fairness, defending the vulnerable, showing mercy, and actively seeking justice.
O Ye Christian Hypocrites!
It saddens me to get this far with the Words of Jesus. It is exceedingly difficult to live in a world with people who profess one thing but do another. People who claim that they want the USA to be a “Christian” nation, but who support violence, hatred, intolerance, and bigotry to others. People who think that only members of their clans deserve respect or deserve to be treated like Jesus thought all people should be treated.
The questions that beg to be answered all start with Why? Why do people who claim to be followers of Jesus not follow his words? Why do people who read the bible and go to church regularly have a fundamental misunderstanding of the Beatitudes and instead practice hate, vengeance and intolerance. Why do religions become tribes that insulate their members from understanding the beliefs of other religions? Why is identity often more important than discipleship and following the true words of Jesus?
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
The late Pope Francis authored a book titled, “The Name of God Is Mercy.” This book by Pope Francis gave me a deeper understanding of what it meant to be merciful. I have never been what you might think of as merciful. Francis said, “A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” This is a beautiful thought. Jesus also implied that those of us who have hard hearts towards others, the poor, the sick, the immigrants, the elderly would have a tough time being granted the mercy that we could not extend to the truly needy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Who among us is truly “Pure” in heart? What Christian out there would say they are not? Yet, purity would seem to be an impossibility in this world. Why then would Jesus put this onus on us? Was he being unfair? What did he mean by Pure in Heart?
Jesus meant that a pure heart is undivided. It means loving God with your whole being, rather than having split loyalties between the world and spiritual life. It means doing the right thing for the right reasons, completely free from hypocrisy, deceit, or the desire to impress others. Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Jesus did not care for hypocrites, liars, and cheats. His life exemplified his constant battle with these types of behaviors.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the Sons of God.
This may just be the one that most people regardless of religion whether Christians or not, ignore. The world seems to run on an engine of violence against others.
It has been said by some that “Violence is as American as Apple Pie.” Many Christians seem to have no problem finding passages in the Old Testament to validate any war that their leaders want to support. Christian leaders as well as other sects have routinely met in the old Rose Garden with the President to bless America and wish us success in vanquishing our enemies.
I could understand this idea of violence from people like me who were taught by their parents to never let a slight or slur or assault go unpunished. But if you say you subscribe to the words of Jesus then show me where Jesus said, “Go smite your enemies.” When his disciple Peter drew a sword and cut off a man’s ear to protect him during his arrest, Jesus rebuked him. He commanded Peter to put the sword away, warning that those who rely on violence will perish by it (Matthew 26:52).
- Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Easy to say but so hard to do. I am amazed by the hundreds of Christians who willingly gave their lives rather than renounce their belief in Jesus or his Father. Not all Christians by any means are hypocrites. Many Christians lead exemplary lives. Many Christians try every day to put the words and ideas of Jesus into practice for themselves and for others.
It is easy for me to stand on a soapbox and excoriate Christians for being hypocritical. I have never denied that in many parts of my life, I am a hypocrite. I admit it. I denounce it. I work to overcome being a sexist, being a racist, being violent, being greedy, being xenophobic. I know it is not easy since I have never reached the heights spoken of by Jesus. Yet, I do not support those who claim to be Christians but who by their every word and deed show themselves to be anything but apostles of Jesus Christ.
I am fed up with the so called Christian religions and churches that support hatred and violence towards those who do not subscribe to whatever they call Christian beliefs.
I am fed up with those who want all Americans to become Christians.
I am fed up with those who want to wage war on people and nations that do not subscribe to their religious, political, or economic values.
Too many of these efforts are led by people who say that they are “Good Christians.” People who claim they only want to do the will of God. But the will of God is bent to their own biases and prejudices.
God save us all from the Christians who profess Christianity but practice a belief system that Jesus would not recognize.
Christianity does not rest on a change of mind. It rests on a change of heart.
This week, you will hear from one Jesus of Nazareth. He has been called by many names including: Messiah, Emmanuel, Christ, Lord, Master, Logos (the Word), Son of God and by himself more often The Son of Man. He is often credited with being the founder or perhaps foundation for a popular religion called Christianity. Today, it is difficult to see the link between the teachings of Jesus and many of these so-called Christian religions. I have it on good authority that Jesus never ever preached killing anyone and yet many of these so-called Christian religions are continually waving a banner of mayhem and destruction at those who think differently than they do. Anyway, it is time to let Jesus speak for himself.
I am talking about greed here. I am talking about wanting more and more regardless of the effects it has on the earth. I am telling you that happiness does not come from having more of things. The only true happiness comes from helping others. It is better to share with others who are needy than to amass a fortune that you cannot take with you. Those who berate the tax collector and call him a sinner and cheat are no better than the tax collector. Indeed, those who refuse to pay their fair share for the life they are given are worse than the tax collector. 
I am talking about sin here. I am talking about grieving your mistakes and injustices towards others. No one can walk in this world without hurting others either deliberately or by mistake. But the people who will be comforted in the next world are those who regret their mistakes and injustices and ask for forgiveness. They are the people who acknowledge their sins and mistakes and try to make amends. I was not perfect, and no one born of this world is perfect. The good and just man admits his vices and tries to overcome them. The good and just man tries to make amends to the people he has hurt or abused.
The narcissist and the man full of hubris will do injustice to all they meet. The narcissist thinks that the world revolves around his needs, wants and desires, and is content to ignore the needs and wants and desires of others. The man of hubris is overly prideful and arrogant and thinks that he has earned the right to have more than others. Both feel that everyone else is there to serve their needs and that their needs come before the needs of anyone else. The injustice done by these beliefs amounts to a mountain of intolerance and discrimination towards anyone who is perceived as inferior or beneath their consideration. For this reason, I say “Do not look upon yourself as being better than others. Remember that there but for the grace of God, would you go.”
world. No one who is not seeking righteousness and justice can expect to find peace. I say that your task is to look for justice where there is injustice. To look for goodness where there is wickedness. You can never complete your search. Your hunger will never be sated. Your thirst will never be quenched. Each generation must take up the search because evil is in our own hearts. Only by looking to replace evil with justice and righteousness can the evil that is within us be banished. We are all born with original sin, but the righteous man is the one who overcomes their sinfulness by replacing it with a goodness that transcends earthly needs and desires.
Those who show mercy towards others will have mercy shown towards them. I lived in a time when lepers, Samaritans, non-Jews and many others were thought to be unworthy of mercy. Mercy was always for those in our own tribe. This meant mercy for Jews if you were a Jew. Mercy for Romans if you were a Roman. No mercy was to be shown to the poor for they were lazy. No mercy was to be shown to the sick because they were sinners. No mercy was to be shown to those of other religions because they were “non-believers.”
I say to you that the pure of heart are those with integrity and character. They are without selfishness and seek primarily to do good for others regardless of the cost to themselves. They are not opportunists who try to squeeze the most for themselves at every turn of events. Neither are they sycophants who yield their ideas and actions to others so they can creat more profit for themselves. The pure of heart are not greedy. They are not profit driven. They are not out for fame and fortune. The pure of heart care only about the good they can do for others. Others include the entire human race and not simply those who belong to their tribe or religion or country. Those who put humanity above patriotism, humanity above family, humanity above friendships and humanity above self will surely see God.
Rage, jealousy, ingratitude, intolerance, bigotry and fear are the enemies of peace. Those who want peace must be willing to beat their swords into plowshares. If you follow my Beatitude, you will disarm yourself. You will throw down your guns. You will deactivate your nuclear weapons. You will turn your armies for war into armies for education. There is no peace possible in aggression. There is no peace possible in hatred. There is no peace possible in defensiveness. The only path to peace is to turn the other cheek. How many times have I said you must do this to find peace?
Actions speak louder than words. All those who cry out “Lord, lord” will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. What good is the salt if it has lost its taste? Those who speak beautiful words will not enter my kingdom without beautiful deeds to match their words. I spoke out my ideas and thoughts. I challenged the powers that were corrupt. I was taken up to the mountain and promised fame and fortune and power by Satan if I renounced my beliefs, but I remained steadfast. I was persecuted and crucified, but I never renounced my beliefs. How then do you think you will be saved by being nice to others and by silencing your thoughts in the face of evil? No one who speaks my name should expect to escape persecution. There is no change without struggle and oppression.
Aging Capriciously 